Popular passages

Page 16 - Should Dennis publish, you had stabb'd your Brother, Lampoon'd your Monarch, or debauch'd your Mother ; Say, what revenge on Dennis can be had ? Too dull for laughter, for reply too mad : On one so poor you cannot take the law; On one so old your sword you scorn to draw : Uncag'd then let the harmless monster rage, Secure in dulness, madness, want, and age.

Page 32 - By chase our long-lived fathers earned their food ; Toil strung the nerves and purified the blood : But we their sons, a pampered race of men, Are dwindled down to threescore years and ten. Better to hunt in fields for health unbought Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught. The wise for cure on exercise depend ; God never made his work for man to mend.

Page 184 - Dorinda's sparkling wit and eyes United cast too fierce a light, Which blazes high, but quickly dies, Pains not the heart, but hurts the sight. Love is a calmer, gentler joy, Smooth are his looks, and soft his pace, Her Cupid is a blackguard boy, That runs his link full in your face.

Page 159 - I'm the god of sweet song, and inspirer of lays ; Nor for lays, nor sweet song, the fair fugitive stays ; I'm the god of the harp — stop my fairest — in vain ; Nor the harp, nor the harper could fetch her again. Every plant, every flower, and their virtues I know, God of light I'm above, and of physic below : At the dreadful word physic, the nymph fled more fast; At the fatal word physic she doubled her haste.

Page 190 - Would soon finish his woes. When in rage he came there, Beholding how steep The sides did appear, And the bottom how deep ; His torments projecting, And sadly reflecting, That a lover forsaken A new love may get; But a neck, when once broken, Can never be...

Page 159 - The lavifh praifes of the babler, fame, I thought them fuch, and went prepar'd to pry, And trace the charmer with a critic's eye ; Refolv'd to find fome fault before unfpy'd, And difappointed, if but fatisfy'd. Love pierc'd the...